Overdoses, deaths rise in 2016 in Milford

MILFORD - Despite a quiet December, there have been 15 opioid overdose deaths in Milford this year, more than triple that of last year.

The number of overdoses from opioids – 72 – is right at police Chief Tom O’Loughlin’s prediction in the middle of the year.

Last year, there were only 44 overdoses and four deaths, and in 2015, only 25 overdoses and one death attributed to opioids.

Though Milford has been particularly hit hard due to what some attribute to the town’s accessibility and location between major cities, opioid abuse is a state-and-nationwide issue.

According to the state Department of Public Health, there have been a confirmed 1,005 opioid overdose deaths through the first nine months of 2016, with an estimated 392 to 470 additional.

Even at the lower estimate, 2016 is still on pace to pull ahead of last year’s state numbers of a confirmed 1,574 deaths with at least 162 more estimated.

There’s no sign that the numbers are tapering off, O’Loughlin said, despite an aggressive push to almost force addicts into treatment immediately after an overdose.

Through a partnership with local programs, the police department has been able to introduce more addicts to treatment and help facilitate that first difficult step.

Amy Leone, a drug counselor who runs Community Impact and a regional substance abuse program with the Juvenile Advocacy Group, said despite the alarming overdose statistics, more addicts are seeking treatment.

The program, funded by Milford’s Town Meeting contribution of $28,000 and a $75,000 state earmark that was cut by Gov. Charlie Baker, intends to put drug counselors on the street with area police departments to respond to an overdose call to initiate the first steps to recovery.

“It’s been amazing the amount of people that we’ve been able to help and support,” Leone said.

Rather than wait for the victim to seek treatment, Leone said the program has been aggressively bringing the treatment and information to the victim.

The program’s genuine intent to help and serve has made a huge difference, Leone said.

“They are human beings and have good qualities,” she said. “The things they’re doing right now is the addiction talking – not them and the person that they are.”

In addition to treatment, O’Loughlin said police are aggressively pursuing drug dealers. Detectives are sent to every overdose call, regardless of overtime.

In addition to inserting the victim into treatment as they’re “falling off of the cliff,” O’Loughlin said the practice is useful from a crime-fighting perspective.

“What you gain out of that is important,” he said. “You gain the potential of finding out where it came from and you gain information about the circumstances themselves.”

O’Loughlin said there are less drugs being trafficked and sold in Milford due to aggressive policing, which includes Milford detectives operating outside of the town in order to halt the distribution networks.

“I think it’s been very effective,” he said, adding that many dealers refuse to sell their product in Milford because of that fact.

O’Loughlin said both policing and treatment have been effective and it takes a commitment from authorities of both disciplines to solve the issue.

“It’s tough,” he said. “It’s not an easy thing.”

Zachary Comeau can be reached at 508-634-7556 and zcomeau@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZComeau_MDN.